Understanding the nuances of automotive component assembly

Today if you inspect a car in details, especially the interiors one can find a lot of components which are non metallic in nature. We are discussing the dashboards, door panels, roof linings and the bumpers and grills. The above mentioned components have undergone a tremendous change over a period of time. The dashboards are no more simple panels having instrumentation and an array of switches.

Modern dashboards are a complex house of wiring harnesses, printed circuit boards, relays, air conditioner clutching, music system, heat sinks, multiple complex vents and their operating mechanism, and a host of electronic gimmickry.

International automotive components have the speciality to make modern instrument panel/dashboard. This could be with soft touch foam and having decorative linings and trims. The accuracy of fabricating such components determine the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the complex components that go to make this. The accuracy determines the longetivity of components over long periods of their operation.

It is pertinent to note that opening of a modern car dashboard is a more complex, time consuming operation and hence top most quality while manufacturing is essential and IAC precisely does that. Top quality manufacture and assembly of all internals and externals. No wonder they are O.E suppliers to makes like Toyota, Audi, VW, Mahindra, Jaguar, Volvo, Rolls-Royce, GM; the list is long.

The unit that I visited in Chakan, Pune mainly supplies dashboards, door trims, roof linings and almost everything that goes in the driver cockpit of the Mahindra XUV5OO. They also supply to the Navistar unit, Mahindra’s premium CV range.

The injection moulding processes and the further treatment of coating, flocking, edge wrapping, hot air welding was a treat to watch. It almost looked like “a magician performing on a stage and pulling out unique shapes out of a pandora’s box.

Usually when you visit an automotive manufacturing plant the components like the dashboard and door panels come as a completely assembled unit, but to watch them being made at IAC plant gives a further insight into the complex procedures of such vital, aesthetic parts that go in a car.

Today, IAC has a global presence that is spread across 15 countries with seventy six manufacturing units. IAC in India has technical engineering centre in Hinjewadi, Pune. Two units in Chakan, Pune and one in Manesar.

With regards to the Asian operations of the IAC, they are prominent in China, India and Japan. The total sales in Asia are estimated to be in the range of 200 million dollars, a thriving business amicably supported by strength of over 1,000 employees. IAC globally do a business of 4.4 billion dollars out of which US alone is 2.3 billion and Europe 1.9 billion dollars.

What is commendable about IAC and their efforts in the components they make is 

• Increase in comfort levels

• Create Emotions

• Bring about weight reduction

• Efficient packaging

• Providing safety solutions

• Balance of value and costs

• Waste and energy reduction

All these definitely point in a single direction which is environment oriented and  supportive of the positive development of the entire automotive industry.